Kia ora e te whānau,
A recent study, led by Dr Tara McAllister, of centre of research excellence Te Pūnaha Matatini, took an extensive look into ethnic diversity at universities and Crown research institutes (CRIs) between 2008 and 2018. The study revealed Māori and Pasifika scientists have been under-represented at New Zealand universities and research institutes. This was quickly labelled by commentators as “structural racism” in New Zealand science.
Whilst the findings of the study reflect a present dismal reality, there is hope of change ahead. A number of G.I.F.T and Foundation North supported projects and initiatives are promoting taitamariki in their kaitiaki role into new pathways and are highlighting the power of weaving mātauranga Māori and Western science.
Te Toki Voyaging Trust’s project to empower rangatahi (young people) to become kaitiaki of Tīkapa Moana, explored the idea that young people had to bond with their identity in order to connect to their role as kaitiaki. The project combined mātauranga Māori with Western science and technology and engaged 11 Ngāi Tai rangatahi at Umupuia Marae on Auckland’s south east coast. The critical issue of sedimentation was the intended environmental focus of the project.
The project involved building the team to run the programme and utilised Ngāi Tai iwi leaders, Te Toki Voyaging Trust (TTVT) waka hourua facilitators and an all-Māori team of scientists. It also included a hui and a hikoi led by Ngāi Tai elders and project designer Marama Beamish walking the land, following the waterways, examining threatened cockle beds and sedimentation in the bay and identifying pa, food and other cultural sites.
It concluded with rangatahi exploring their pēpēha, experiencing a waka trip, traversing the land, holding environmental workshops and creating digital stories as kaitiaki of Umupuia Marae and the surrounding environment.
“Kaitiakitanga happens when young people stand up and take the lead. Te Toki Voyaging Trust has a culture of mentoring and supporting others to lead. We show someone how to do something, then they teach others,” said Hoturoa Barclay-Kerr of TTVT.
Mātauranga Māori, kaitiakitanga and enabling rangatahi were also the main focus of discussion at a recent Ngāti Pāoa wānanga at Ruapotaka marae. The wānanga reflected an example of the active leadership Ngāti Pāoa is taking in the Waiheke Marine Project (WMP).
The Waiheke Marine Project is a mana whenua and community-led initiative to protect and regenerate the Waiheke Island marine environment. Around 35 Ngāti Pāoa descendants spoke about issues linked with the health of their whānau, hapū and iwi, including ways to enable a pathway for rangatahi that is rich with Ngāti Pāoa kōrero.
Panellist Chris Bailey highlighted rangatahi are the rangatira of tomorrow who must have a genuine passion and understand responsibility to care for te taiao (nature). Rangatahi panellist Carrie Taipari-Thorne described the amazing work supporting youth to connect with nature and themselves, kaupapa that has rangatahi developing themselves as leaders, and the importance of supporting rangatahi properly with practical tools and experiences.
With the hope of nurturing and nourishing community in Te Tai Tokerau, Ngā Tangata o Te Hopua Wai, 'opened' in September last year. Comprising around 2ha of land divided into sections: the school garden, planted to educate and nourish the rangatahi; a larger-scale market garden; and a space dedicated to individual whānau plots, Ngā Tāngata o Te Hopua Wai is an initiative in Te Hapua overseen by Ngāti Kuri Trust Board.
The garden is now providing healthy, inexpensive herbs, fruit and vegetables, with benefits extending to enhanced community member’s wellbeing. It also helped to relieve stress and increase people's sense of wellbeing by getting them involved, improving their physical health, providing social opportunities to build a sense of community and belonging, and enabling them to learn and share knowledge about gardening, nature and cooking.
Community member Hayley Marsh said the community has a space to grow kai and share knowledge, skills and stories.
"As a young girl growing up, I remember observing my mother growing a variety of putiputi, hua rākau and huawhenua. She would often share what plants flourished and ideas around what could have been done to prevent diseases. I would love for my son and future generations to enjoy the same fruits….It expanded my understanding. I have a deeper respect for the production and lifecycles of living organisms. I found plant science absolutely fascinating.”
Mana whenua hope the gardens inspire and guide youth into horticulture pathways, whilst providing them with practical training and positive support.
Whilst Ngāti Kuri educates through natural pathways, Sir Peter Blake Trust (BLAKE) is using virtual reality by engaging thousands of young people and adults through innovative technology. In conjunction with New Zealand Geographic, WWF and Foundation North’s G.I.F.T, BLAKE is providing a virtual reality programme (NZ-VR) experienced by over 26,626 students, 3,876 adults (adult only presentations) - in total reaching 30,502 people. Student feedback indicates that NZ-VR is providing an experience of the marine environment, that many had not been exposed to.
Wearing a VR headset, students experience several local underwater environments through 360˚ videos that are captured by New Zealand Geographic. This immersive experience allows students to compare and contrast pristine marine ecosystems and damaged ones. Discussions are built on these observations and students learn what causes the damage that has been done and what actions as kaitiaki can be taken to protect our marine environment.
Students are engaging with a wide range of themes, including sea life, human impacts on marine environments, and action to improve the health of marine environments. A shift is evident among both primary and intermediate/secondary students increased interest in protecting the marine environment.
Leigh Takirau, of Ngāti Paoa, Ngāti Whātua ō Ōrakei, Waikato Maniapoto and Ngā Puhi descent, has recently joined BLAKE to look at evolving what is currently in the NZ-VR deliverable programme from a Matauranga Māori perspective which will help encourage rangatahi to be kaitaiaki within the moana and waterways.
Northland-based Mountains to Sea Conservation Trust was established in 2002, as a charitable umbrella and support organisation for the Experiencing Marine Reserves (EMR) marine education and Whitebait Connection (WBC) freshwater education programmes. These are both leading models in education for sustainability in New Zealand.
The Trust sees education as a vital part of society and central to all environmental restoration. Both programmes involve young people, their parents and the wider community. The programmes support concepts such as the uniqueness of freshwater and marine biodiversity and provide an active focus on conservation of these environments through education and action.
"These kids are the future users and guardians of Tangaroa. With awareness of what natural abundance looks like and how far we have come from it, they’re better placed to care for it throughout their lives. We think the conservation education work Mountains to Sea Conservation Trust is doing is invaluable, long may it continue,” said supporter Dean Wright.
To add more cultural context to mātauranga Māori, advocate Curtis Bristowe talks on the power of kawa, tikanga, and kaupapa to provide answers to today's problems. Curtis reflects on his ancestor’s challenges, how they overcame them and how we can learn from these in our own lives. There is the need to communicate indigenous knowledge so people may gain an understanding of its value and worth.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-PwEnC-Rj8&feature=youtu.be
Mātauranga Māori and Western science and technology is being woven together to engage, educate, equip and guide rangatahi to be kaitiaki, not only for today, but also for tomorrow. Foundation North and G.I.F.T are proud to support these projects and to be part of a journey that strives to protect our natural world and also support people and communities to carry out this work.
To read the national articles on this subject, please refer to links below:
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12353606
https://www.stuff.co.nz/pou-tiaki/122094610/mori-and-pasifika-severely-underrepresented-at-science-faculties-study-finds
Nāu te rourou, nāku te rourou, ka ora ai te iwi.
G.I.F.T Team
